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Caregivers booklet in demand

November, 2005.- A booklet put out by Hospice New Zealand to help families care for their terminally ill loved ones is in hot demand.

The Guide for Caregivers was part of an information pack distributed to hospices nationwide and thousands of health professionals, including GPs, hospitals and Maori health professionals, late last year.

Almost a year later Hospice New Zealand is still being inundated with orders for the booklet, especially from hospices, hospitals and rest homes, and even a facility in India.

The Guide for Caregivers is designed for patients with terminal illness and their families and offers practical information and advice. It gives a good overview of what to expect during the grieving process, explains symptoms and empowers the caregiver with knowledge that can help them plan for the future and for times of increased need and support.

Palliative care expert professor Rod MacLeod says the booklet helps to ease the initial shock caregivers typically encounter and is a good first step in helping them to understand that resources are available for themselves and their loved one.

“The caregiver will come to understand they are not alone in their feelings of anger, frustration, or confusion. Help is available - this country has many organisations, health professionals, spiritual leaders and people trained in psychology and other areas ready and available to offer the support necessary.”

The booklets are also designed to help hospice palliative care specialists, hospital doctors and GPs to focus on management plans for their patients and families and enable them to convey that terminal illness, though often difficult and sad, can also be a time of great joy and an opportunity to enjoy quality of life with friends and family.

“The caregivers’ booklet focuses on the right sort of information to help caregivers and their health professionals. I think doctors engaging in palliative care in the community around the country will find this a valuable resource for their patients, their caregivers and also a good resource for themselves to refer to,” says one GP.

The booklet was part of the first stage of an awareness campaign, supported by then Health Minister Annette King, which aimed to better educate and inform people about hospice palliative care.

More than 8000 patients and their families use hospice services in New Zealand each and many more patients receive palliative care through other health providers.

However, too many still don’t know what options are available should they or their loved ones suffer from end-of-life symptoms.

Thirty seven hospices come under Hospice New Zealand’s umbrella and all provide palliative care free of charge to people living with a terminal illness, while also supporting family/whanau and friends.

Hospices are partially Government funded but rely on community fundraising to cover the remainder of service-associated costs.

Anyone who would like a copy of The Guide for Caregivers should contact Hospice New Zealand on 04 499 0266 or email admin@hospice.org.nz.